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.

Homeowners: Here's what's in the tax bill for you

Homeowners: Here's what's in the tax bill for you by Kathryn Vasel @KathrynVasel Republicans on Friday unveiled the final version of their tax bill, and it has new restrictions for some homeowners. Senate and House Republicans have reconciled their versions of tax legislation and the final plan shrinks some popular deductions. Lawmakers aim to vote on the bill next week and then send it to President Trump's desk. Here's a look at what the changes could mean for future and current homeowners: Downsized mortgage interest deduction New homebuyers would now only be able to deduct interest on the first $750,000 of mortgage debt on a newly-purchased home. That's down from the current $1 million threshold, but higher than the $500,000 limit the House proposed in its tax overhaul in November. Current homeowners would not be affected by the lower cap. The deduction has helped make home buying more affordable for some homeowners. While the median home price nationwide is currently $254,000, buyers in some cities face much higher price tags. The lower limit could make it harder for house hunters in expensive cities. For instance, in New York City, nearly 64% of mortgages on homes sold this year were over $750,000, according to data from ATTOM Data Solutions. And in San Francisco, 58% of home loans exceeded the new cap. Some experts worry the increased threshold could keep people from selling their homes, which could squeeze the already short supply of housing. "The mortgage interest deduction change will put downward pressure on prices as well as sales," said Joe Kirchner, senior economist at Realtor.com. Current homeowners might hesitate to trade up to a more expensive house if the price tag is too high to take full advantage of the deduction. The new cap would also apply to mortgages on second homes. The original House bill wanted to eliminate the deduction on second homes. Less reason to itemize Homeowners must itemize their taxes if they want to claim the mortgage interest deduction. But since the final bill calls for nearly doubling the standard deduction, far fewer Americans are expected to itemize come April. "In my generation, before we had a home we took the standard deduction, but as soon as we bought a home we started itemizing because that mortgage interest deduction was so significant," said Kirchner. "Now with the higher standard deduction very few people will itemize. It will virtually eliminate the deduction on a practical level." The final tax bill also eliminates the deduction for interest on home equity loans. Currently that's allowed on loans up to $100,000. Limit on property tax deduction Taxpayers will no longer be able to fully deduct state and local property taxes plus income or sales taxes. Instead, the legislation allows individuals to deduct up to $10,000 in state and local income and property taxes or state and local property and sales taxes. That means homeowners living in high-tax states like New York, California and New Jersey could see an increase in what they owe Uncle Sam in April. Nationwide, 4.1 million Americans pay more than $10,000 in property taxes, according to data from ATTOM Data Solutions. Tax break stays for home sellers Both the House and Senate bills originally wanted to scale back a tax break for homeowners when they sell their home for a gain. Taxpayers will still be able to exclude up to $500,000 (or $250,000 for single filers) from capital gains when they sell their primary home, as long as they've lived there for two of the past five years. Earlier tax reform proposals would have increased the live-in requirement to five out of the last eight years. CNN's Lauren Fox and Phil Mattingly contributed. CNNMoney (New York) First published December 17, 2017: 12:17 PM ET

Why you want Amazon to be your new neighbor

by Kathryn Vasel @KathrynVasel January 24, 2018: 1:09 PM ET Amazon has narrowed down its hunt for a second home to 20 locations. And the chosen city is likely to get an economic jolt -- particularly to its housing market. The company announced in September that it plans to open a second corporate headquarters, and a nationwide bidding war soon broke out. Some cities offered massive tax breaks, while others got creative with their courtship. Tucson, Arizona, sent a giant cactus to CEO Jeff Bezos and one Georgia town pledged to name an area "The city of Amazon (AMZN)." The second headquarters is expected to cost at least $5 billion and create as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs -- no wonder cities rushed to lay out the welcome mat. The selected city will get an immediate boost to jobs and wages, said Javier Vivas, director of economic research for Realtor.com. It will also push up home prices and lead to new home construction in neighborhoods within commuting distance from the headquarters location, he added. When a big company moves into a new town it tends to have a ripple effect on the local economy: job creation strengthens, some wages increase and home prices rise. Just look at what happened in Reno, Nevada, after Tesla opened a massive battery factory: Home prices have soared 43% since the fall of 2014, following the start of construction on the Gigafactory, according to Daren Blomquist, senior vice president of communications at ATTOM Data Solutions. The same phenomenon occurred when Apple moved its headquarters to a new location in its home city of Cupertino, California. In the three years following the project's approval, homes located within a mile of the new campus appreciated three percentage points faster, on average, than the rest of the county, according to Realtor.com. Just how much home prices will rise in Amazon's chosen city will depend on a variety of factors: the existing inventory, recent home price performance, demand and the space available for new construction. Of the 20 cities, those that have seen more modest home price growth than others on the list stand to gain the most, according to Blomquist. He pointed to Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, as the markets that could see the biggest gains. "The impact in markets where there has been single-digit appreciation ... we could see a jump, at least in the short term, to double digits of 10%-20% or even more appreciation for the first year," he said. In places where housing is already in limited supply and building regulations are prohibitive -- like New York and Boston -- home values could rise even more with a surge of new residents to staff the new headquarters. For instance, home prices in Boston have jumped 8.4% in the last year to a median home value of $568,300, according to Zillow. If Boston becomes the new home of Amazon, it would be "chaos," according to Fernando Ferreira, an associate professor at Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. "The housing market would be three times worse than it already is," he said. Markets with existing inventory and space and fewer obstacles to building will be able to more easily handle the need for new home construction, experts said. The big winners in the chosen city will be current homeowners who will likely see their home appreciation rise when Amazon moves in. "If you are in a larger house and ready to downsize or move, this will be a pure gain for you," said Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, professor of finance and director of the Center for Real Estate Finance Research at New York University Stern School of Business. Another indirect advantage for the winning city: Rising home values will likely to lead to higher property taxes, which could help boost a city's budget and services. "As property taxes and revenues go up, that can go to schools and improve their quality and better fund programs ... and infrastructure," said Van Nieuwerburgh. Related: In booming economies, food banks are busier than ever On the downside, a big jump in home prices means renters or wanna-be homeowners in the selected city could lose out, potentially forcing some long-time residents out of the city. "If you are a first-time homebuyer in the selected city, this is bad news," said Van Nieuwerburgh. "Property prices will go up and you will have to borrow more." CNNMoney (New York) First published January 20, 2018: 11:04 AM ET

Utility Box Mural Project

Date Issued: January 25, 2018 Application Deadline: March 9, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. The City of San Carlos and its Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission invite artists to participate in the City’s Utility Box Mural Project for 2018. We are seeking artists to showcase their work on this project to paint six utility boxes located throughout San Carlos. The goals of the project are to enhance the beauty and vibrancy of San Carlos, deter unsightly graffiti on utility boxes, and bring art to unexpected places. Please download and read the Call for Local Artists and Attachment A for details regarding this project, including the application requirements. If you plan to submit your artwork proposal, please complete and submit the following paperwork prior to the deadline: Application Design Template You may also obtain these documents by e-mailing publicart@cityofsancarlos.org, or picking them up at the Parks & Recreation Office at City Hall, 600 Elm Street, during office hours. Art-Active Art-Hands Art-Welcome to San Carlos Art-Deer CONTACT US publicart@cityofsancarlos.org (650) 802-4421 FIND US 600 Elm Street San Carlos, CA 94070 CONTACT US Phone Directory webmaster@cityofsancarlos.com

What happened to the luxury market in 2017?

Luxury homes stayed on the market for an average of 116 days -- nearly double the time for lower-priced homes BYMARIAN MCPHERSON Staff Writer JAN 4 Although inventory at the luxury level has remained robust in the midst of a shortage at the mid- and lower- priced tiers, realtor.com says that didn’t translate into extra sales during 2017. In fact, the average luxury property stayed on the market for 116 days — a 5.3 percent year-over-year increase from 2016. Furthermore, the national luxury entry point increased 5.1 percent year-over-year to $804,000, while the national median sales price grew 1.8 percentage points more to 6.9 percent. Realtor.com director of economic research Javier Vivas says despite these stats, 2017 was a great year for buyers shopping at the higher end of the market. “Although 2017 was another strong year for the luxury housing market, it was outperformed by the U.S. market overall,” said Vivas in an emailed statement. “Age of inventory in the top 5 percent of the market slowed significantly over last year — a telltale sign that the luxury sector as a whole has weakened. Much of this slowing can be attributed to a wider selection of luxury homes for buyers and increased uncertainty over the last 12 months.” At the local level, luxury markets in California, Colorado, Hawaii and New York have fared exceptionally well over the past year with double-digit price gains. Maui (32.73 percent); Eagle, Colorado (31.49 percent); Kings, New York (30.33 percent); Kauai (25.11 percent); Hawaii (24.84 percent) and Honolulu (21.79 percent) counties all experienced home price growth above 20 percentage points, resulting in average home prices ranging from $1,753,158 to $2,485,125. Brooklyn; Seattle; and Marin, California in the Bay Area also posted 12 percent to 30 percent growth year-over-year, landing them in the top 10 fastest growing primary-home luxury markets in country, thanks to new development sales and increased demand from Chinese buyers. When it comes to the highest sales prices, New York tops the list with a median sales price of $5,284,197 — a whopping $1,913,509 more than the second most expensive market, San Mateo, California. California dominated the list, snagging half of the top 10 spots thanks to multi-million dollar asking prices in Marin ($3.28 million), San Francisco ($3.21 million), Santa Clara ($2.58 million) and Santa Barbara ($2.47 million). Looking forward to 2018, realtor.com says owners of these lavish properties need to keep an eye on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which caps mortgage interest deductions at $750,000 and doesn’t allow homeowners to deduct the interest paid on vacation homes. Furthermore, buyers in high-tax states such as New York and California will also have to grapple with choosing between property taxes and state and local taxes, says realtor.com, since SALT (state and local tax) deductions have been limited to $10,000.

Strong jobs report offers glimmer of hope for inventory relief

Residential construction adds 30,000 jobs in December BYMARIAN MCPHERSON Staff Writer JAN 5 Although the inventory shortage has continued to rage on, the Employment Situation Summary for December 2017 from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows there could be some relief on the way. The report shows that total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 148,000 jobs last month and that the market experienced continued robust growth in manufacturing, healthcare and construction. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics The unemployment rate is at 4.1 percent, and the number of unemployed persons at 6.6 million, which is unchanged from October’s and November’s report. The real estate and housing industry is especially focused on the construction sector, which has steadily grown since Hurricanes Harvey, Maria and Irma in August, added 30,000 jobs in December and increased by 210,000 in 2017. Although some economists are hopeful about the steady growth, others aren’t sure that it’s enough to reach the 50-year average of 1.5 million residential construction starts. Realtor.com chief economist Dr. Joesph Kirchner said, “November’s increase in construction labor is a hopeful reminder that things will eventually get better for our severely depleted housing market. In fact, if this trend gains momentum, it could address one of the largest issues holding back inventory — a lack of construction labor. ”Let’s hope it does, because the report also shows no end in sight for the insatiable demand we’re seeing in the market,” he added. “Jobs drive housing demand and with the unemployment rate remaining at its lowest level of the millennium, it’s only going to pick up.” National Association of Realtors chief economist Lawrence Yun was underwhelmed by the report, saying that much more explosive growth is needed to make a change. “With the unemployment rate in the construction industry having fallen from over 20% in 2010 to 5.9% at the year-end of 2017, there could be a little growth to home construction despite the on-going housing shortage,” said Yun in an emailed statement. “There needs to be serious consideration in allowing temporary work visas until American trade schools can adequately crank out much needed, domestic skilled construction workers.” Chief economist at Fannie Mae Doug Duncan also weighed in, saying, “The lack of wage acceleration should support gradual monetary policy normalization. However, we anticipate a pickup in wage growth this year, which could lead to a rise in the working-age labor force participation rate. “And if the tax bill can incite stronger growth in capital expenditures and productivity, keeping labor costs contained, the Fed could still afford to be patient with its tightening. “One bright spot we saw in the report is the biggest monthly rise in residential construction employment in 2017, raising hopes for some supply relief for housing this year.”

Does the American Dream no longer include homeownership?

While it has no official definition, the American Dream has always been the notion that citizens of the United States can better their lot in life through hard work. That encompasses the idea that hard-working kids of hard-working parents would have a better life than the previous generation, and homeownership has generally been considered part of that. A decade after the housing market crashed, the homeownership part of the American Dream has become more elusive, according to a new study from Pew Research Center. The report, which analyzed Census Bureau housing data, showed that more United States households "are headed by renters than at any point since at least 1965." Between 2006 and 2016, the U.S. added 7.6 million households, but "in part because of the lingering effects of the housing crisis," according to Pew. During that 10-year period, the number of households renting their homes jumped from 34.6 million (31.2% of the total) to 43.3 million (36.6%). That tops the relatively recent high watermark of 36.2% renting in 1986 and 1988, while coming in just below 1965's 37% renters rate. Young adults lead the way While young adults have historically been more likely to rent than other age groups, the numbers are increasing. More than 6 in 10 (65%) of households headed by someone under 35 rent, Pew reported. That's up from 57% in 2006 but it's not as big a gain as the 35-44 age group made where the percentage of renters jumped from 31% in 2006 to 41% in 2016. The numbers rose among Americans 45-64 as well, going from 22% in 2006 to 28% in 2016. In fact the only demographic studied that did not post an increase was those 65 or older who stayed flat at 20%. It's not that people don't want to buy In many cases the increase in renters has been blamed at least partially on Millennials not wanting to be tied down or not working hard enough to afford buying. In fact most renters want to buy, according to a separate Pew report: "In a 2016 Pew Research Center survey, 72% of renters said they would like to buy a house at some point. About two-thirds of renters in the same survey (65%) said they currently rent as a result of circumstances, compared with 32% who said they rent as a matter of choice. When asked about the specific reasons why they rent, a majority of renters, especially nonwhites, cited financial reasons." While mortgages are cheap on a historical basis, inventories remain low, prices have soared, and mortgage standards have remained tough. Banks and other lenders may have more flexibility than they did right after the housing crisis, but the days of stated income, low-doc, or even no doc loans are largely gone. Add in the fact that some capable, qualified buyers have decided to put off homeownership due to lingering fears over the economy and you can see why homeownership has declined. Americans still want to buy houses. Some of us can't afford to right now, while others are waiting for better opportunities. Many simply lack the means to reasonably expect ever to be able to make a purchase. Owning a home remains part of the American dream, at least for most Americans, but it's also a less attainable goal than it was for previous generations.

What You Need To Know About New Tax Law

(CNN Money) — It’s official. Congress has ushered through the first major tax overhaul since Ronald Reagan was president. The measure, which President Trump signed into law on Friday, is about to shake up life for millions of Americans. It will redistribute the country’s wealth. It could sway decisions about whether to buy a home, or where to send kids to school. It could even affect when unhappy couples decide to get a divorce. As the bill becomes law, here are 34 things you need to know. 1. This is the first significant reform of the U.S. tax code since 1986. Reagan signed major legislation for corporations and individuals in 1986. Since then, serious tax reform has eluded Republicans, though they repeatedly called for it as the tax code became longer and more arcane. 2. Changes have been made to both individual and corporate tax rates. Individual provisions in the new legislation technically expire by the end of 2025, though some people expect that a future Congress won’t actually let them lapse. Most of the corporate provisions are permanent. 3. Tax reform will increase deficits by $1.46 trillion over the next decade. That’s the net number that’s been crunched by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation. The future law’s contribution to the debt will likely be even higher if individual tax cuts are re-upped in eight years. 4. There are still seven tax brackets for individuals, but the rates have changed. Americans will continue to be placed in one of seven tax brackets based on their income. But the rates for some of these brackets have been lowered. The new rates are: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35% and 37%. 5. The standard deduction has essentially been doubled. Republicans want fewer people to itemize their taxes. To achieve this, they’ve nearly doubled the standard deduction. For single filers, the standard deduction has increased from $6,350 to $12,000; for married couples filing jointly, it’s increased from $12,700 to $24,000. 6. The personal exemption is gone. Previously, you could claim a $4,050 personal exemption for yourself, your spouse and each of your dependents, which lowered your taxable income. No longer. For some families, the elimination of the personal exemption will reduce or negate the tax relief they get from other parts of the reform package. 7. The state and local tax deduction now has a cap. The state and local tax deduction, or SALT, remains in place for those who itemize their taxes — but now there’s a $10,000 cap. Previously, filers could deduct an unlimited amount for state and local property taxes, plus income or sales taxes. 8. The child tax credit has been expanded. The child tax credit has doubled to $2,000 for children under 17. It’s also now available, in full, to more people. The entire credit can be claimed by single parents who make up to $200,000, and married couples who make up to $400,000. 9. There’s a new tax credit for non-child dependents, like elderly parents. Taxpayers may now claim a $500 temporary credit for non-child dependents. This can apply to a number of people adults support, such as children over age 17, elderly parents or adult children with a disability. 10. Fewer people will have to deal with the alternative minimum tax. The alternative minimum tax, a parallel tax system that ensures people who receive a lot of tax breaks still pay some federal income taxes, remains in place for individuals. But fewer people will have to worry about calculating their tax liability under the AMT moving forward. The exemption has been raised to $70,300 for singles, and to $109,400 for married couples. 11. And the mortgage interest deduction has been lowered. Current homeowners are in the clear. But from now on, anyone buying a new home will only be able to deduct the first $750,000 of their mortgage debt. That’s down from $1 million. This is likely to affect people looking for homes in more expensive coastal regions. 12. None of this will affect your 2017 taxes. Americans won’t need to worry about these changes when they start filing their 2017 tax returns in about a month. The new laws will first be applied to 2018 taxes. 13. By the way, you can still deduct student loan interest. The deduction for student loan interest, which is up to $2,500 per year, is safe. 14. You can still deduct medical expenses. The deduction for medical expenses wasn’t cut. In fact, it’s been expanded for two years. In that time, filers can deduct medical expenses that add up to more than 7.5% of adjusted gross income. In the past, the threshold for most Americans was 10% of adjusted gross income. 15. If you’re a teacher, you can still deduct classroom supplies. The deduction for teachers who spend their own money on school supplies was left alone. Educators can continue to deduct up to $250 to offset what they spend on classroom materials. 16. The electric car tax credit lives on. Drivers of plug-in electric vehicles can still claim a credit of up to $7,500. Just as before, the full amount is good only on the first 200,000 electric cars sold by each automaker. GM, Nissan and Tesla are expected to reach that number some time next year. 17. Home sellers who turn a profit keep their tax break. Homeowners who sell their house for a gain will still be able to exclude up to $500,000 (or $250,000 for single filers) from capital gains, so long as they’re selling their primary home and have lived there for two of the past five years. 18. 529 savings accounts can be used in new ways. In the past, funds invested in 529 savings accounts wasn’t taxed — but it could only be used for college expenses. Now, up to $10,000 can be distributed annually to cover the cost of sending a child to a “public, private or religious elementary or secondary school.” This change is a win for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. 19. And tuition waivers for grad students remain tax-free. Graduate students still won’t have to pay income taxes on the tuition waiver they get from their schools. Such waivers are typically awarded to teaching and research assistants. 20. But say goodbye to the tax deduction for alimony payments. Alimony payments, which are codified in divorce agreements and go to the ex-spouse who earns less money, are no longer deductible for the person who writes the checks. This provision will apply to couples who sign divorce or separation paperwork after December 31, 2018. 21. The deduction for moving expenses is also gone … There may be some exceptions for members of the military. But most people will no longer be able to deduct the cost of their U-Haul when they move for work. 22. As is the tax preparation deduction … Before tax reform passed, people could deduct the cost of having their taxes prepared by a professional, or the money they spent on tax prep software. That break has been eliminated. 23. … The disaster deduction … Losses sustained due to a fire, storm, shipwreck or theft that aren’t covered by insurance used to be deductible, assuming they exceeded 10% of adjusted gross income. But now through 2025, people can only claim that deduction if they’ve been affected by an official national disaster. That would make someone whose house was destroyed by a California wildfire potentially eligible for some relief, while disqualifying the victim of a random house fire. 24. … And the reimbursement for bicycle commuters. The tax code used to let you to knock off up to $20 from your income per month for the costs of bicycle commuting to work, assuming you weren’t enrolled in a commuter benefit program. That’s gone. 25. Almost everyone is now exempt from the estate tax. Before tax reform, few estates were subject to the estate tax, which applies to the transfer of property after someone dies. Now, even fewer people have to deal with it. The amount of money exempt from the tax — previously set at $5.49 million for individuals, and at $10.98 million for married couples — has been doubled. 26. Adjustments for inflation will be slower. The new legislation uses “chained CPI” to measure inflation. It’s a slower measure than what was used before. Over time, that will raise more money for the federal government, but deductions, credits and exemptions will be worth less. 27. Oh, and the individual mandate on health insurance has been scrapped. Republicans failed to repeal Obamacare earlier this year, but they managed to get rid of one of the health law’s key provisions with tax reform. The elimination of the individual mandate, which penalizes people who do not have health care, goes into effect in 2019. The Congressional Budget Office has predicted that as a result, 13 million fewer people will have insurance coverage by 2027, and premiums will go up by about 10% most years. 28. You won’t be able to file your tax return on a postcard. Trump said H&R Block would go out of business after tax reform because filing taxes would become so simple. Not quite. While doubling the standard deduction will ease the process for some individuals, there’s still a web of deductions and credits to work through. And for small businesses, filing could become even more complicated. 29. The corporate tax rate is coming down. The corporate tax rate has been cut from 35% to 21% starting next year. The alternative minimum tax for corporations has been thrown out altogether. Earnings are expected to go up as a result. 30. Pass-through entities will also get a break. The tax burden by owners, partners and shareholders of S-corporations, LLCs and partnerships — who pay their share of the business’ taxes through their individual tax returns — has been lowered via a 20% deduction. The legislation includes a rule to ensure owners don’t game the system, but tax experts remain concerned about abuse of this provision. 31. Not all CEOs think they’ll use their savings to create jobs, though. Just 14% of CEOs surveyed by Yale University said their companies plan to make large, immediate capital investments in the United States following tax reform. Capital investments, like building plants and upgrading equipment, can spur hiring. 32. Plus, the way multinational corporations are taxed is about to change. The U.S. is switching to a territorial system of taxation, which means companies won’t owe federal taxes on income they make offshore. To help the transition, companies will be required to pay a one-time, low tax rate on their existing overseas profits — 15.5% on cash assets and 8% on non-cash assets, like equipment in which profits were invested. 33. By the way, there’s a provision to rein in executive pay at nonprofits. The legislation includes a new 21% excise tax on nonprofit employers for salaries they pay out above $1 million. That may mean some well-paid executives at nonprofits take a pay cut. 34. Businesses won’t be able to write off sexual harassment settlements. New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez’s amendment born of the #MeToo moment made it all the way through. Companies can no longer deduct any settlements, payouts or attorney’s fees related to sexual harassment if the payments are subject to non-disclosure agreements. — With contributions from Jeanne Sahadi, Kathryn Vasel, Tami Luhby, Anna Bahney, Jackie Wattles, Katie Lobosco, Lydia DePillis and Matt Egan. The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2017 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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)

This Is How Fast a Home Sells Today

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 Homes today spend a median time of three weeks on the market—far shorter than the median of 11 weeks five years ago, according to new data from the National Association of REALTORS®. “The inventory shortage and the growing economy and job creation has increased the interest in home buying,” says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “There is just not enough inventory; people need to fight over the few homes available on the market.” Historically, about 1.2 million new homes are built every year, but this year, only about 800,000 have been constructed. “It’s been below that in prior years, and in the past decade, greatly lower than that,” Yun says. “Today’s shortage is largely explained by a decade of underproduction.” Some markets are so hot that even three weeks is too long for a home to sit. “If we make it three weeks in our market, there is something wrong,” Boston-area real estate agent Darlene Umina told CNNMoney. “These days, you know within the first weekend whether the price was right.” Umina says she hosted an open house earlier this year that resulted in 18 offers on the home. Three of those offers were cash. In San Francisco, real estate pro Erin Thomas says she’s had buyers arrive at open houses and submit an offer on the spot. She also says offers above the list price and without contingencies are becoming more commonplace. Source: “This Is How Long it Takes to Sell a House,” CNNMoney (Nov. 27, 2017)

Millennials: We Don’t Want to Be Renters

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2017 Though many are stuck renting out of financial necessity, millennials show the same desire for homeownership as their parents and grandparents—and traditional suburban properties appeal to them more than renting or buying in cities, Bloomberg reports. Many economists have acknowledged that the slow path to homeownership for young adults is contributing to record-low homeownership rates. But for two consecutive quarters, the homeownership rate among those ages 35 and younger has been on the rise. Some economists predict that millennials will eventually own homes at similar rates as their parents. Rents, however, are taking a bigger bite out of household budgets, making it difficult for young adults to save enough for a down payment. Student loan debt is also delaying homeownership by up to five years, according to a 2016 study by the National Association of REALTORS®. Millennials also have less job security than prior generations, and their careers are more likely to require relocation. “You go back 20 or 30 years, people would get a job in their late 20s, early 30s, with the idea that they might work there until retirement,” Dean Baker, codirector of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, told Bloomberg. “People aren’t in that boat today.” Young adults who are ready for homeownership are also facing a shortage of homes in the market. “The result is that price gains continue to exceed income growth through scarcity, particularly in that smaller home market, which is the hardest market for a builder to essentially reach and build to these days,” Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders, told Bloomberg. Overall, though, economists seem to be upbeat about millennials. They’re getting married and having children later than their parents did, but they are starting to “cross barriers typically associated with buying,” Bloomberg reports. “Right now, probably a third of our housing business is young couples coming out of the apartments,” Chris Nelson, a builder in Simsbury, Conn., told Bloomberg. “We really think that’s just the beginning—that over the next three to five years, we’re going to see a ton of people coming out of the apartments, buying homes.” Source: “Millennials Want to Own Homes Too, if U.S. Economy Would Consent,” Bloomberg (Nov. 26, 2017)

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.

How to Buy a Home Even if You Have Bad Credit

Experts Answer Your Top Questions About Buying a Home With Bad Credit Your credit score is one of the crucial determining factors in whether you can qualify for a mortgage. “The higher your score, the less risky you appear on paper,” says Staci Titsworth, a regional manager at PNC Mortgage in Pittsburgh, PA. If that sends shivers up your spine, keep reading. We’re here to help. The reality is that the average U.S. household has over $15,000 in credit card debt. You’re not alone if you’re wondering: Can I even try buying a home with bad credit? The answer is yes, but for a smooth home-buying journey, you’ll want to take care of any financial blips on your report now. Here we share expert answers to your questions, including exactly what a credit report is and how to raise your score to get ready to buy a house. What exactly is a credit score? It’s common practice for mortgage lenders to check your credit score, which is calculated based on the information that appears on your credit report. Five aspects impact your score, each varying in importance: payment history (35%), debt-to-credit utilization (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit (10%). A quick primer: Payment history. You need to make payments on time, since one late payment can significantly ding your score. One example: A 30-day delinquency can cause as much as a 90- to 110-point drop on a score of 780 for a consumer who has never missed a payment before, according to Equifax. Debt-to-credit utilization ratio. This is how much debt you’ve accumulated on your credit cards divided by the credit limit on the sum of your accounts. Credit experts recommend keeping this ratio around 30%. If you’re maxing out your credit cards each month, you could be damaging your credit score in the process. Length of credit history. Having a longer credit history raises your score. Since credit agencies look at the age of your oldest account, the age of your newest account, and the average age of all your accounts, you should keep all of your accounts open—even those with zero balances, says credit expert Bill Hardekopf. Credit mix. It helps your score to have a combination of different types of credit accounts, including credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans, car loans, and mortgage loans. (You’re on your way to getting the last one.) New credit. Each time you apply for a new credit account, you trigger a “hard inquiry” on your credit, which dings your score (typically by five points). Therefore, avoid opening multiple credit accounts at the same time, says Hardekopf. Doing so will lower the average age of your credit accounts and hurt the length of your credit history. Caveat: Your credit report doesn’t contain your actual credit score. However, your credit card company can most likely provide your score to you for free, or you can contact a nonprofit credit counselor to find out your score. What is an ideal credit score? A perfect credit score is 850, but only about 0.5% of consumers reach that number, according to Fair Isaac Corporation, creator of the widely used FICO credit scores. Once you’re over 740, you’re considered to be in the best range for mortgages and should be able to qualify for the best interest rates, says Chris Hauber, a mortgage loan originator with Hallmark Home Mortgage in Denver, CO. If your score is in the 700s, you should still be able to qualify for an attractive interest rate. For conventional loans, most lenders look for a credit score of at least 620, says Hauber. At a minimum, applicants should have at least a 660 credit score to land a decent interest rate and avoid jumping through additional hoops to qualify for a loan. Can I get a mortgage if I don’t have a credit history? Ideally, you opened a credit card account by age 20—or at least started to build credit by becoming an authorized user on your parents’ card when you were a teenager. (Remember, the length of your credit history plays a major role in how your score is calculated.) But if you don’t have any credit established, there are other ways to qualify for a mortgage and establish a credit history. “Many lenders will look at monthly payment obligations that don’t necessarily show up on a person’s credit report,” says Titsworth. If you have a good track record of making your car loan payments and paying rent on time, that will help, say experts. Those habits are usually indicative of a responsible credit user. Is bad credit worse than no credit? No one’s perfect and mistakes happen. Maybe you forgot to pay the minimum balance on your credit card bill once or twice—or you recently met with a mortgage lender to discuss your financing options and discovered errors on your credit report. Whatever the case may be, you can always take steps to heal your credit. “Poor credit can be managed,” Titsworth points out. Moreover, there are loan programs designed to help people with mediocre credit buy a home. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans have some of the lowest credit-score requirements at 580 with a 3.5% down payment. Loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs let military veterans put as little as 0% down on a property without having to pay private mortgage insurance. How can I boost my credit score before I buy a home? To get your three-digit number up to snuff, start by addressing the financial habits that damaged your score in the first place. Pay all of your bills on time each month. Sounds tough, but it is the easiest way to boost your score, says Hardekopf. If you need help adjusting your spending habits and designing a budget that makes sense for you, consider meeting with a financial planner (you can find one at NAPFA.org). Pay down your credit card debt. Since credit scores are often the result of having a high debt-to-credit utilization ratio, one of the best ways to improve your score is to get rid of existing debt, says Hauber. Many experts use the 30% rule of thumb: Charges to your credit cards shouldn’t exceed one-third of your total available credit limit. You may also be able to raise your score by requesting a credit line increase from your credit card issuer; this would effectively reduce your debt-to-credit utilization ratio. It typically involves just making a phone call or submitting a request online. What if I notice errors on my credit report? Carefully review your credit reports for errors. You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian). One in four Americans said they spotted errors on their reports, according to a 2013 Federal Trade Commission survey. The mistake may be something as simple as someone else sharing the same name as you and your bank mixing up your accounts, says Sylvia Gutierrez, a loan officer in South Florida and author of Mortgage Matters: Demystifying the Loan Approval Maze. If you spot an error, alert your creditor immediately. Once your creditor confirms the error, the company will submit a letter to Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian individually to get the error removed. If the error is just on one bureau’s report (like a misspelled last name), contact that agency specifically to rectify the problem. Hopefully, you spotted it early in the home-buying process, since “it can take time to get errors removed from your report,” says Titsworth. If you’re already in the process of purchasing a home, ask your loan officer to help you speed up the error removal. Can I get black marks removed from my report? If you’re the one responsible for blemishes on your report, such as a missed payment, contact your creditor and ask for a deletion. While this likely won’t work for a serial late payer, it might be granted if you’re a one-time offender; it also helps if you’ve been a loyal customer. If the creditor agrees to the deletion, they’ll send letters to the credit bureaus (the same way they do for errors) requesting that the negative information is removed from your report. Then the onus is on you to gather documents proving that changes that have been made—such as a new credit card statement or letter of deletion—and then have your lender request an updated score from the credit bureaus. This process is often referred to as a “rapid rescore” and can lead to an updated credit score in days instead of months, which can make all the difference when you’re trying to get preapproved for a home loan in a competitive market. Should I get help from a credit-counseling agency? First, you need to understand the difference between a credit-counseling agency and a debt-management company. If you’ve fallen behind on credit card payments, a credit counselor can help you create a plan to pay back your creditors and better manage your money for a relatively low cost. A debt-management company, meanwhile, will negotiate with your creditors to try to reduce the amount of debt you owe—but many debt-management companies charge a large fee for their services. Unless you’re seriously in the hole, a debt-management company probably isn’t the way to go. Whether you should meet with a credit counselor, meanwhile, depends on how complicated your financial situation is and what kind of guidance you want. If you have debt on only one credit card and simply have to pay off the balance, you already know what you have to do to mend your credit score. If the situation is more complicated (e.g., you owe money on several credit accounts and don’t know which to pay off first), a session with a credit counselor may help you devise a payoff plan. Some nonprofits, like the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, offer free consultations.

3 Reasons You Should NOT Follow the American Dream and Buy Your Own Home

3 Reasons You Should NOT Buy Your Own Home 1. Buying a home ties up money that could be out making money. That brings me to the first reason why you should never own your own home. Once you buy this half-a-million-dollar property, hypothetically, you are going to have to put down $100,000. Now, the $100,000 is going to be the deposit to purchase the property. You are going to tie up $100,000 of liquid capital that is not going to produce a return on investment. Now, yes, you can talk as much as you want about capital appreciation and all that jibber jabber. But if you know how to make money in real estate, you should always stay liquid. You should use the $100,000 to buy, fix, and flip. Make a $20,000 profit, and now that money that you’ve got sitting there is not $100,000 anymore; it’s $120,000. Rinse and repeat. Keep buying, fixing, and flipping—or wholesale or wholetail the property. You don’t have to flip; there are a lot of ways to make money in real estate. Money makes money, so use the liquid capital to go out into the market to make more money with it. Related: Forget the American Dream—Renting, Not Homeownership, is the Path to Financial Freedom Personally, when less than 10 percent of my net wealth purchases my dream property, that is when I’ll pull the trigger on that home—with cash. I can tell you right now, my dream property is around $4-5 million, so I will have to have a net wealth of $50 million before I buy that house. I don’t want any debt; I actually want to buy it with cash. Until then,I am happy to rent. I rent a crappy little 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment with my family right now. Every spare dollar I have is out making more money for me. 2. Buying a home reduces flexibility. The second reason is when you purchase your own home, you will be stuck. You’re going to anchor yourself to the ground, and you’re going to have this big mortgage that forces you to get out of bed every day and go to work so you can pay it off. You will also probably be buying this property in a great little school district so your kids can go to school, get good grades, and go to college. Guys, you are just falling for the stereotypical American Dream. You’ve got no mobility. What if there is a change in government, what if there is a third world war, what if you need to move quickly? I have literally moved like a gypsy, looking for other opportunities. I’m living in Toledo, Ohio right now, out of all places. There is not a ton to do here except invest in real estate and make a ton of money doing it, which I’m doing right now. I’ve got multiple companies here. This was a sacrifice I was willing to make. I mean, what if you get a better job opportunity? In my opinion, the world is changing at a rapid pace. You do not want to throw that anchor. There is so much uncertainty going on in today’s day and age, You want to be flexible, mobile, and move to where the opportunities are available. 3. Buying a home introduces all kinds of expenses. That leads me to reason number three, and that is the expenses. I think that a lot of you out there don’t understand how many expenses you will incur by owning your own home. Let’s just start with this thing called a mortgage. I’ve already mentioned before that after you get into a ton of debt with a mortgage, you will have to get out of bed every day to go to your 9-5 so you can afford those mortgage repayments. I don’t have to do that, as I already mentioned. All my liquid capital is out in investment properties, producing more money and cash flow for me, which is how I afford my rent. Related: Why Following the American Dream Will Rob You of Financial Control How about all the maintenance expenses—cleaning the gutters, mowing the lawn, the insurance costs? Time is money. I feel sorry for those people mowing their lawns an hour every single week. I would rather be making this video or on the phone. I would suggest you rather use your liquid capital and invest it in cash flowing investment properties or in buy, fix, and flip properties. Rent a crappy little home or a condo, whatever it may be, and use your liquid capital to invest it and make money. Let the tenants cover all of your expenses. Look, I know that this vlog goes against popular belief. I’m happy to take whatever criticism you throw my way. So please make sure that you comment below. I would love to hear from a person who has successfully purchased their own home, hasn’t incurred that many expenses, and also has a large real estate portfolio on the side. I would love to hear how you have structured all of that.

33rd Annual Moonlight Run and Walk

Presented by the City of Palo Alto Friday, October 6, 2017 at the Palo Alto Baylands Start Times: 5K Walk @ 7:00 p.m. / 10K Run @ 8:15 p.m. / 5K Run @ 8:45 p.m.

How to Choose a Property Manager for Your Rental Home

Happy owners, happy tenants — it all starts with the right property manager. You would never turn your home over to a stranger, so choosing a property manager shouldn’t be any different — finding one you trust is vital. “You are entrusting probably one of the biggest investments you’ll make into the hands of someone else, so you want to make sure you feel confident that they’ll handle things the way you want them to,” says Grace Langham, CEO of Nest DC, an award-winning boutique property management firm in Washington, D.C. Dependability and trustworthiness are two key points all homeowners should keep in mind when assigning their home or condo to the loving care of a third party. But before handing over the keys, consider these six other factors to help you find the right property manager. Communication With so many players involved — owner, tenant, and manager — communication is critical. Some owners prefer lots of updates, while others want few. Regardless of your desired amount of communication, the quality of it is crucial. A property manager’s availability and response rate get to the very heart of their job. In your initial contact, look for clues about their speed, courtesy, and availability. “Once signed on, a good manager will do what it takes to keep you in the loop, whether you prefer emails, phone calls, or texts,” Langham says. Residents When it comes to renters, a property manager’s duty is twofold: Find quality residents, and ensure they are treated fairly. Happy renters often stay in a residence longer, and are more reasonable when things break. That said, finding good residents requires legwork. “Bad tenants can be one of the most costly things for an owner,” says Nathan Miller, president and founder of Rentec Direct, a property management software company. Evictions are expensive, especially when owners are forced to forgo several months’ rent, and damage can be costly. That’s why running a credit check and performing a background screening for criminal and eviction reports are musts, according to Miller. Fees Property management fees tend to be fairly standard, Miller says — usually between seven to 15 percent of a month’s rent, but most often around 10 percent. Sometimes, a condo may cost slightly less than a stand-alone house because there’s less home and yard to maintain. The owner is also on the hook for maintenance costs, and often pays a finder or leasing fee — up to a full month’s rent — when a new resident moves in Ask if you will still be charged, even if the unit stands empty. Some property managers also charge a lease renewal fee and sometimes tack on a project management fee when dealing with excessive bureaucracy or paperwork, such as insurance claims. Verify the fee structure and services provided before signing any contract. House visits and other specs When it comes to inspections, a property manager should be proactive. That means taking a peek at your property no less than once (and maybe even twice) a year to ensure that everything is in good shape. Such time-consuming tasks mean it’s important for a property manager to maintain a reasonable caseload. Miller says his ideal property manager oversees between 500 to 1,000 properties. “Once they get above that size and they’re managing many, many thousands of units, you’ll lose the personal touch,” he says. Finally, you want to find a property manager that specializes in a type of unit: single-family homes, apartment complexes, or high-end houses, for example. Earning potential To maximize a home’s earning potential, property managers should know how to deftly market a unit so that it doesn’t stay empty long. This includes everything from posting it on well-known rental websites to taking quality photos that make it pop. Miller says the property manager should also ensure a home is leased at market rent, and analyze that rate semiannually. You want to know you’re not being shorted income by charging too little. Technology Finally, the proper software can indicate that a management firm has what it takes to succeed. “We’re lucky to be a company that’s eight years old,” Langham says. “We started with all this technology that’s really friendly to the millennial generation, which is a lot of the renter base.” Collecting rent and submitting maintenance requests via an online interface makes interactions between all parties a breeze, meaning owners and tenants can move on with their busy lives. After all, at the end of the day, that’s what having a property manager is all about.

Menlo Park fire district may fund $350K for pedestrian signal

Safety measure outside a fire station would provide missing link for bike routes crossing Middlefield Road A pedestrian-activated traffic signal should be installed near Fire Station 1, the Menlo Park Fire Protection District board tentatively decided last week. At its June 20 meeting, the board agreed to fund up to $350,000 for a signal at 300 Middlefield Road, though it still needs to discuss the plan with city officials. The signal will be a HAWK (High-Intensity Activated crossWalK) beacon, similar to one approved last year outside Station 3 at Almendral Avenue near El Camino Real in Atherton. The new signal will remain dark until activated by a pedestrian, bicyclist or the fire district; its beam will extend 300 feet along Middlefield to allow cyclists to move from Santa Monica Avenue across Middlefield to Linfield Drive while vehicles are stopped. Jonathan Weiner, a member of the city’s Complete Streets Commission, and resident Jen Wolosin brought the idea to fire Chief Harold Schapelhouman. They asked the district to partner with the city to acquire the beacon, which would make it safer for people east of Middlefield to access Burgess Park, downtown, schools and other parks. Wolosin, who is spearheading a community school safety effort called Parents for Safe Routes, said the Menlo Park City School District told her 170 to 190 Hillview Middle School students would use the new route. Weiner said the current blinking crosswalk at Linfield presents “the illusion of safety.” The new signal, on the other hand, would amount to “multiple crosswalks … giving pedestrians a lot more room without feeling intimidated by cars that are just a few feet away.” David Lehman, a 40-year Menlo Park resident, said he received a concussion and a bruise to his brain after he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bike from Santa Monica to Linfield in July 2015. “I’ve crossed that intersection thousands of times (with) traffic often heavy and moving fast, and drivers seem distracted and in a hurry,” he said. “It’s absolutely not safe to assume cars will stop” at the crosswalk. At the meeting, Schapelhouman touted Weiner and Wolosin’s “common sense approach” to improving safety along a stretch outside the fire station where firefighters have had to use the Jaws of Life apparatus to extract people from cars and where at least one pedestrian has been killed. “We fight people trying to insert bicycle routes in places that they shouldn’t be,” he said. “I rarely deal with something that was so easy, so simple and so straightforward in approach.” The new signal would also benefit the fire station. Board President Peter Carpenter said the beacon would allow fire engines to leave the station without waiting for traffic or pedestrians “to get out of their way.” The board also directed the fire chief to look into the possibility of implementing HAWK beacons outside additional fire stations, where feasible. The board didn’t approve the funds June 20, but instead authorized Schapelhouman to meet with city officials to negotiate sharing the costs for the new signal. The project can’t proceed without the city agreeing to do an engineering design for it. A staff report accompanying the discussion only authorized paying half the expected cost, at $175,000. Carpenter suggested the district fund the total cost, with the stipulation that the city reimburse it with the other $175,000 later. “If we wait for them to put it in the budget, it will take another 16 months,” he said. “This will have to come back to the board to approve an actual amount.”

2017 San Carlos Volunteer Expo

A Christmas Carol, A Gift to the Community

http://www.christmascarolthegift.com/

A Christmas Carol: A Gift to the Community
December 11 – 20