La Jolla Real Estate Blog

CalPERS ~ Down Payment Assistance

Are you a California State Employee? County Employee? School or University Employee? California Legislature? Municipal Employee? Any one of these employers may or currently utilizes the CalPERS retirement system. What is CalPERS? CalPERS provides retirement and health benefits to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees, and their families and more than 2,500 employers. In lieu of Social Security, many agencies participate in the CalPERS program as a benefit to their employees.

In addition to the retirement and health benefits offered by CalPERS, there is also a personal loan that is offered to members in order for them to purchase a home!

This Personal Loan can be used for down payment assistance only. The money borrowed is secured by ALL retirement funds in the system and will not be withdrawn from the members personal account. There will not be a lien against the property for the loan. Funds in the members retirement account is only used as collateral in case of default.

These funds are considered borrowers own funds and can be used to cover up to 5% of the down payment. This is a great option for financing with an FHA loan! The loan is considered as part of the borrowers debt to income ratio, but does not affect the LTV/CLTV of the property.

Maximum loan amounts are limited to the lesser of maximum of 5% of the purchase price, 50% of the members personal contribution to their retirement account or $18,421. Loan terms are from 1 to 15 years based on the amount of funds borrowed.

In addition to the benefit of being able to utilize funds from the retirement fund, closing costs are controlled, Mortgage Insurance is available at reduced rates, reduced escrow and title fees through Old Republic Title and Stewart Title!

This is a win win situation for First Time Home Buyers that do not have the money for a down payment! Ask your loan officer today if they are a certified to do CalPERS loans. If not, contact me for additional information on how they can become certified or to be referred to someone who is!

Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!

Please feel free to Subscribe to All Possibilities Throughout San Diego or contact me at 619-838-4408. 

                                                     

I think with our sound bite, microwave cooking, instant now everything pace of life, we feel at the end of the work day, if there is even something defined as a work day that we have to take our problems and frustrations home past 6 p.m. and KEEP WORKING on solving them into the night. Whatever happened to at least a LITTLE SEMBLANCE of being done or enough is enough with our work and our work-related problems?

You Don't Have To Solve All Your Problems Today.

You can pick up again tomorrow. The world will not stop spinning. The world won't end. Even if someone is mad at you, they'll be waiting for you tomorrow first thing mad at you anyway. Think of it as trying to solve the Rubik's cube puzzle and you almost got it finished at 6 p.m. Well there is your family and dinner and maybe just a little relaxing in your life remember?

 

Do not run yourself in the ground with problem solving. Have you heard of things blow over, sleep on it, I will take a fresh look at it in the morning? We do make far too many routine problems like World War III situations. They really are not and most won't even matter at all a year from now. But your family and you as an individual with balance will very much. Harken to the bit of wisdom from the Trouble Tree story if you haven't heard it before or if you have a reminder for your day. You'll get that Rubik's cube finished first thing in the morning. No sweat. Cause you will be refreshed again.

Refreshing ourselves with rest and doing something else is very good. Turn that computer off. It's had a long day too.

The Trouble Tree

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farm house had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire had caused him to miss an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pick-up truck refused to start.


As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. When we arrived he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked to the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles; he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.


Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed by the tree and my curiosity got the better of me.


I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.


"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, they don't belong in the house with my wife and children. So, I just hang them on the tree when I come home in the evening and then I just pick them up again in the morning."


"Funny thing, though," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remembered hanging there the night before."

 

As a professional Home Stager in Fairfield County, CT I see too often kitchens that look outdated. When consulting our clients, we often recommend inexpensive upgrades that will help you sell your house. Kitchen and bathrooms are the two most important rooms in a house and can make or break a deal with potential buyers walking through your house.

Here are our Top 10 Tips for simple and inexpensive updates:

1. Replace old hardware with up-to-date hardware such as brushed nickel handles or door knobs.

2. If the wood of the cabinets looks worn, consider painting or re-facing the cabinets.

3. Replace the countertop with a granite countertop. Granite has the perception of being expensive, but it does no longer cost as much as it used to.

4. When you replace the countertop consider upgrading your kitchen sink with an under-mount sink.

5. Update your faucet.

6. Consider adding a backsplash if you do not have one.

7. If you have a backsplash, but the grout has seen better days, you can use a grout bleach pen or simply a regular White Out (yes, the one on your desk) to refresh your white grouts. About a year ago I have used the White Out to refresh my own bathroom floor and it still is completely white and did not wear off.

8. Upgrade your appliances – they all should have the same finish.

9. Add under-mount cabinet lighting.

10. Give the walls a fresh coat of a neutral color.

 

When getting your house ready for selling, de-clutter the countertops – leave out a maximum of only one countertop appliance.

If you are not sure how to get your kitchen ready for sale, contact us at 203 434 0669 or info@redesignyourspace.com

Birgit Anich

Home Stager & Redesigner   I   HSR, RESA-PRO, RESA, ASHSR - CT Chapter President

Fairfield county, CT   I    www.redesignyourspace.com   I 

Click here to join the new REALTORS & HOME STAGERS INFORMATION EXCHANGE group 

 

Get real!  Why would I want to have an agent act as a middleman when I can deal with the builder?  I can get the house for less because there will be no commission to pay. Why should I lose thousands of dollars just to have you walk in with me? If you are a home buyer how often have you thought this?  If you're a Realtor how often have you heard this?

When the cat is away the mice will play.  There are so many things that can work against a home buyer when they aren't properly represented. Check out  the latest scandal by some home builders.  No agent to review your paperwork and you aren't an attorney or well versed in deciphering a harmful clause in a real estate contract.  Glad I'm not you.

People will pay legal fees to protect themselves in a small civil case but think they can "wing it" on their own when buying a structure costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. As I recall a lot of people were taken advantage of by builders.  For example, everyone in the real estate community in Sacramento knew to steer clear of this company.  These unlucky home buyers who went at it alone ended up with a huge mess on their hands. A mortgage on a home they couldn't occupy.

Don't think this is an isolated incident.  Visit www.ripoffreport.com and type in your favorite builder and see what pulls up.  Most complaints are made by buyers who were not represented by an agent.  To further drive my point home, how many of you reading this post think oversight of mortgage lenders and investment people is a good idea?  Who is going to oversee your new home purchase?  The agent who is paid by the builder?  Uh huh, you catch my drift.

You're not  hiring a person who lets you look at the inside of houses or a shuttle driver.  You're hiring a professional who's little subtle re directions during the transaction helps you avoid disasters.  You think it was a great idea and we know it was more than that.  It saved you from a lawsuit.  These lawsuits aren't always contractual either.  Many can fall into the form of discrimination.  Some blatant most subtle.  I didn't know is no excuse in a courtroom.

Even if your theory of a home being sold for more holds true, hiring a Realtor to represent you in a purchase of a new home is much cheaper than the potential mounting legal bills or paying for a home you can't even occupy.  Agents know contracts, federal and local laws, have the inside scoop on bad and good builders and always stay abreast of breaking news that could affect the area you are buying in or the credibility of the builder.  If the builder thinks they can pull a fast one on you to make more money, then there's a good chance they might.

 

 

North County

*1902 Wright St 2nd floor Carlsbad CA 92008

New Office!

2990 Jamacha Road #136  El Cajon CA 92019

Nevin Williams NMLS #69651

*Not a licensed office location

Happened to be home when Oprah was on this afternoon. The topic was Makeunders. Women who needed less not more. But this also applies to homes. Nate Berkus did a room Makeunder and it inspired me!

Every home that goes on sale needs a makeunder. The less of you, the quicker your home will sell. The bigger and more spacious your home looks the higher it's perceived value.

This means it's really important to edit your stuff so what's really important greets you (and your buyers) when you walk in the door. You want your homes' features to shine, you want buyers to say AH!

The trouble is we tend to keep adding stuff to our homes and don't stop to edit.
I compare it to getting dressed. You've got a great look going but then you keep adding accessories to your outfit. A scarf or two. All of a sudden your great look gets lost. No one will be able to focus on that perfect necklace or pair of shoes because there's too much to look at.

The best outfits are the ones with a simple color palette. A nice pair of jeans, a contrasting top and jacket and some great accent jewelry and shoes.

Your home is no different. It's an extension of who you are but it shouldn't be the catchall for everything you've ever wanted to bring home. Layering is wonderful but you have to know when to stop before your look gets lost.

Start with one room. Treat it like an extension of yourself. How would you dress it?

10 Easy Tips to "Make Under" Your Home

1. Keep in simple, Pick one or two main colors for your walls and floor. The fewer colors the more spacious your home will look.

2. Pick a third and fourth (if desired) accent color . Use these colors sparingly.

3. Keep your surfaces consistent.  Walls should be the same material if possible and painted or finished in the same color on all walls. Floors also. Keep flooring consistent throughout the house.

4. Group your family photos on one wall and use similar frames and mats to keep a unified look. Edit your photos first and keep only the ones you love.

5.  Group your plants also. Your plants will thrive and it reduces watering time. Toss out any that are unhealthy or dying.

6. If a room has more than one use make sure there's a dedicated space for each use. Screens or dividers can help separate living from office or exercise space.

7. Keep your window treatments clean and simple. Heavy window treatments that cut down on light can overpower a room. Invest in some light colored curtain panels instead hung on a simple pole. These look great over inexpensive 2" blinds.

8. Remove area rugs on carpet.  Visually they cut up the floor space and make the room feel smaller.

9. Edit your collections. Keep only pieces you love on display. Again grouping them will create impact and reduce visual busy-ness.

10. Keep it to 5. When in doubt, keep no more than 5 toys or 5 plants or 5 pillows or 5 frames or 5 lamps for example in a room at one time. If you want to add a new piece, take out an old one.

Remember keep it simple. Whether you are getting ready to sell your home or just want to live lighter, a professional home staging consultation can help you with your "makeunder".

Photos are not samples of Hampton Redesign staging but chosen to represent how a simplified color palette can makeunder a room.

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Hampton Redesign   817-891-9563   www.hamptonredesign.com

Tessa Skeens | Owner & Lead Staging Designer

Professional Home Staging and Redesign Services Serving Greater Fort Worth TX Including Aledo, Willow Park, Benbrook, Keller, Arlington, Southlake, Colleyville, Hurst, Mansfield, Burleson and Tarrant County

What's In The Water At La Jolla Shores?

La Jolla Shores is one of the best beaches in San Diego County. You will find that the warm water and beautiful summer days bring more surfers, swimmers, kayaks and snorkelers to the sparkling water. What else will you find in the water at La Jolla Shores?

You are likely to find an occasional jellyfish, sea lions playing in the surf, a few sting rays, dolphins or strands of kelp. Most of these ocean occupants are harmless. When getting in the water, most know to do the "sting ray shuffle" which is dragging your feet through the sand to avoid stepping on a ray or jellyfish.

But recently, there have been a couple different sightings of sharks! The sightings occurred Sunday by a kayaker that was fishing from his boat and came eye to eye with the giant fish and then later in the afternoon another sighting by lifeguards. Both eyewitness descriptions are consistent with a Great White, but remain inconclusive as to the actual species since the sightings were brief in both cases.

Shark experts at the Scripps Institute for Oceanography say the California Coast is home to many sharks but most of the time they are just not seen. SIO does not feel that the sightings are a threat, as humans are not in a sharks food chain. They are targeting sea lions and seals.

Great White sharks are one of the species of sharks that researchers have the most questions. They are found throughout oceans world wide, but researchers do not know how far they travel or how many exist. With recent satellite tracking, we are beginning to learn more about the species and their habits. With this recent research, it appears that the Southern California coast is a nursery ground for the Great White with most sighted being between 4 and 10 feet long. These juviniles hunt mostly fish so the likelihood of one mistaking a swimmer for a seal or porpoise is almost nil.

There have been numerous great white sightings over the last week from La Jolla Shores to San Onofre State Beach. Chuck Patterson took the video below from his stand up paddle board off the coast at San Onofre about 6 days ago.

The warning has been lifted as there has not been any sightings over the last 24 hours. But if you are planning to go to the beach, don't forget a good book, a towel, your sunscreen and be cautious because you never know What's In The Water At La Jolla Shores!

 

 

 

Making the Home of Your Dreams A Reality. As your Agent of Possibibility it is my intent to make your home buying or selling process a smooth one!

Please feel free to Subscribe to All Possibilities Throughout San Diego or contact me at 619-838-4408.